10 beautiful open-planed family homes from Japan

Japan is an intriguing country: it’s a world leader in technology, has the world’s third largest gross domestic product and
simultaneously boasts a rich history steeped in culture and tradition; much of
which is still pervasive today. Of course our focus is architecture and
interior design, and on that front Japan doesn’t disappoint either; with
wonderful architectural traditions, keen embrace of modern styles and a
penchant for innovation, Japan has something for everyone. So with this in
mind, today we’re taking a look at ten fantastic Japanese family homes. Let’s
get started…

1. ​The quintessential family home

The first entry to our list is almost the
embodiment of a picturesque family home with a spacious front yard and
beautiful white fencing along the porch. Here we can see a slight mix of
styles, thanks to the classic porch that brings to mind colonial European
architecture in Asia.

​2. Space and light

Undoubtedly, space is essential for a family,
and there’s no shortage of that here! The home has a bright, warm feel thanks
to the abundance of natural light and combination of light wood and white
colours. The unconventional modern layout gives the property an interesting character;
while the minimalist décor makes no secret of the fact that we’re in Japan where minimalism tends to be the order of the day.

​3. A Japanese take on industrial style

Once again we find plenty of space for a young
family to thrive; thanks in this example to the open, industrial design of this
loft-style home. Although the home has a definitively industrial feel, there’s
a Japanese twist to it too with the abundance of light toned wood in the
design.

​4. Extremely open interiors

Here we have a charming family home that exudes
elegance in its simplicity. The essentially western style home has a few
traditional characteristic that hint at the history of the culture from which
it comes, such as the high, ornate ceiling, and shoji screen windows. However,
the homes most attractive quality has to be the connection between the living room and garden, giving the interior an incredibly open feel.

​5. Scandinavian style, Japanese design

Modern Japanese interior design blends
brilliantly well with Scandinavian style as both share a preference for light
wooden tones, white walls and a predominantly minimalist aesthetic; exemplified
above by this beautiful Scandinavian style Japanese home.

​6. Space redefined

A wonderful characteristic of contemporary
Japanese design is the frequent disregard for how space in a home is typically
defined; rather than following a traditional floor plan, Japanese architects frequently shape the space in intriguing and novel ways, like the astonishing
living room pictured above.

​7. Innovative interiors

Although contemporary Japanese interiors do
tend to air of the minimalist side with a lot of wood prevalent in the design,
there’s still plenty of room left within this trend for creativity and
ingenuity. The home above serves as proof, with a lowered seating area – once
again demonstrating how space can be used creatively – and the wonderful
spectrum of colours blended into the walls.

​8. The heart of the home

A family home needs a focal point, and what
better for a focal point than the place where the family comes together to share
a meal? This bright, modern home places the dining table at its core creating a
living space that is inextricably linked to family life.

​9. Creating invisible barriers

This home boasts an unbridled amount of open
space thanks to wall-to-wall glass that virtually removes the barrier to
external space, and a raised section of the floor that separates the spaces without
enclosing them.